Construction season is once again upon us. For Saskatchewan, that means we must concentrate our efforts on building and maintaining our infrastructure through a limited window. That usually means it’s all hands on deck when it comes to the workforce needed to start and complete projects.
A road construction project is a busy place. Anyone who has driven on a Saskatchewan highway over the years would attest to this. Co-ordinating the flow of ongoing traffic while manoeuvring a piece of heavy equipment is a carefully choreographed process. One wrong move can mean the difference between life and death.
When it comes to safety, our industry is at the forefront of delivering the necessary training to ensure that anyone in the heavy construction industry can expect to work in a safe environment. It is often external factors that limit the industry’s ability to guarantee an accident-free work site.
In 2012, a young woman was working as a flag person on a road construction crew in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan. Her name was Ashley Dawn Richards, and she was 18 years old. She had just started work on the highway project, when a driver sped through the construction zone driving 90 to 100 kilometres an hour. The driver hit and killed Ashley.
Ashley’s death was completely avoidable, had the reckless driver adhered to the rules of driving through a construction zone. While additional safety measures have been put in place since Ashley’s death, there is still work to be done to educate and remind drivers that they need to slow down and be safe.
That is why our industry continues to advocate with stakeholders and partners to inform the general public on the importance of understanding and practicing road safety.
Adopting common sense practices when behind the wheel, such as slowing down in a construction zone, being aware of your surroundings, and paying attention to the road and not your phone, will create a safer workplace for highway construction workers.
Avoiding a life-changing tragedy by simply slowing down and paying attention should be the easiest decision any driver makes.
As climate change intensifies across Canada, a new report released by the Canada Climate Law Initiative (CCLI) and the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is calling on the construction sector to embed climate resilience into their core governance. Building resilience: A guide to climate governance for Canada’s construction sector provides a practical roadmap to help industry leaders address growing climate risks across the entire construction value chain.
With nearly 30 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked to construction, companies within Canada’s construction industry can play a significant role in addressing climate change and creating more sustainable and resilient communities.
“The construction and buildings sector holds enormous potential to drive positive change,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, CCA president. “Through effective governance, leadership and collaboration across the value chain, the sector can play a pivotal role in creating more sustainable, climate-resilient communities. From project financing and design through to construction, maintenance and renovations, each actor plays a critical role.”
While construction has always faced environmental challenges, climate change introduces more severe risks – like heatwaves, wildfires and flooding – that disrupt projects and endanger communities. The guide calls for long-term, governance-driven strategies to build resilience.
Key messages from the report include:
Directors and senior leadership are central to climate action. They hold significant power to ensure that climate risks and opportunities are properly considered in business decisions.
Climate action is a competitive advantage. By adopting long-term strategies around mitigation and adaptation, companies can lead in a changing marketplace, enhance business resilience and meet evolving client expectations.
A systems-level coordinated approach is essential. Projects involve many players at different stages in the life cycle – from project inception and financing to maintenance and renovations. Building climate resilience requires cross-sector coordination, continuity and shared accountability.
“Climate governance is a strategic imperative for Canadian construction companies to build sustainable and resilient businesses and communities for the future,” said Jacqueline Fitzpatrick, author of the guide and CCLI affiliated research scholar.
“Climate governance is not merely a corporate initiative – directors must be aware of their evolving fiduciary duties,” said Amee Sandhu, a volunteer climate change governance expert at CCLI as well as senior legal counsel at Alstom. “As citizens, regulators and stakeholders demand accountability, this guide provides practical insights to construction firms’ management and directors as they navigate this newly emerging area of law, ethics and business.”
Building resilience offers clear, actionable guidance tailored for construction companies of all sizes. It includes legal context, risk assessment frameworks and tools to help boards and management teams embed climate governance into their core operations. “Directors have a clear role to play in shaping the future of the industry,” said Gilbert. “This guide makes it easier for them to lead with confidence, fulfill their responsibilities and align with the transition to a low-carbon, climate-ready economy.”
The latest labour force numbers from Statistics Canada show that despite U.S. and Chinese tariffs, Saskatchewan continues to have the strongest labour market in Canada. Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate among provinces at 4.9 per cent, which is well below the national average of 6.9 per cent. Saskatchewan added 20,500 jobs year-over-year in June.
“Saskatchewan heads into the second half of 2025 with the strongest labour market in Canada,” Deputy Premier and Immigration and Career Training Minister Jim Reiter said. “Our government is committed to maintaining this continued growth ensuring that Saskatchewan people are prepared for the jobs provided by our strong economy.”
June 2025 saw all time historical highs (aged 15 and over), with:
Year-over-year, full time employment increased 26,300, an increase of 5.2 per cent. Off-reserve Indigenous employment was up 6,300, or 10.2 per cent, for the 12th consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Indigenous youth employment was up 2,200, or 21.8 per cent, for the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Women employment is up 13,200 which is an increase of 4.6 per cent, and employment for men is up 7,300 an increase of 2.2 per cent.
Saskatchewan’s two biggest cities saw impressive year-over-year growth. Compared to June 2024, Saskatoon’s employment was up 7,600, an increase of 3.8 per cent, and Regina’s employment was up 6,400, an increase of 4.4 per cent. Regina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 per cent, the fifth lowest among 41 major cities in Canada, and Saskatoon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.6 per cent, ranked fourth lowest among major cities.
Major year-over-year gains were reported for healthcare and social assistance, up 11,800, which is an increase of 12.7 per cent. Construction is up 6,500, an increase of 14.5 per cent and public administration is up 5,000, an increase of 13.6 per cent.
The province continues to see economic growth in other areas. Year-over-year, Saskatchewan ranked first among the provinces for growth in the value of building permits an increase of 31.5 per cent and second among the provinces for growth in urban housing starts, a significant increase of 211.0 per cent.
Flashing pedestrian crossing signs in Estevan, a crosswalk in Lampman and streetlights on the Red Earth Cree Nation are among the road safety enhancements that will be delivered using funding provided in the Provincial Traffic Safety Fund’s latest round of grants.
Sixty-two projects in 61 Saskatchewan communities will receive grants, totalling nearly $1.54 million. Grants in this round range from $853 to $100,000. “The Government of Saskatchewan and SGI are committed to delivering safer roads for everyone in Saskatchewan,” Minister Responsible for SGI Jeremy Harrison said. “This $1.5 million in provincial grants will enable 61 municipalities and First Nations throughout our province to deliver enhancements to traffic safety in their communities.”
Provincial Traffic Safety Fund grants are awarded to communities twice a year, using proceeds from photo speed enforcement. A total of $14.55 million has been awarded to 918 projects in Saskatchewan since the program was established in 2019. Eligible projects must focus on one or more of these traffic safety priorities: speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, occupant protection, intersection safety, aggressive driving, vulnerable road users or medically-at-risk drivers.
Applications are now being accepted for the next round of funding. The deadline for applications is Sept. 30, 2025. For more information and for the full list of approved projects, visit SGI’s website: https://sgi.sk.ca/community-grants-programs.
The dust has settled on the April federal election and now is the time for our elected representatives to get to work. The campaign saw many issues discussed by party leaders and their candidates with varying opinions from all sides of the political spectrum. All campaigns experience competing interests and some voices are heard over others.
The heavy construction industry was one of those voices. Much like the Canadian electorate, our industry is at a crossroads. Will the future of Canadian infrastructure expand for the economy to grow? What does the result of the federal election mean for projects in Western Canada and, more importantly, for Saskatchewan?
During the campaign, there were many discussions on ways to advance the Canadian economy while, at the same time, becoming less reliant on the United States. The ebbs and flows of the tariff threats continue to have an impact on how we do business across the country and here in Saskatchewan.
As an industry, we continue to advocate for long-term strategic funding for infrastructure that guarantees good jobs, safe roads and economic growth.
Rather than looking south, Canada has started to look east and west to create opportunities by removing barriers that create stagnation in economic growth. All sectors are looking at ways to create solutions that bring mobility across the country on vital projects required to keep our economy on track.
Our industry adapts to change quickly, and the challenges facing it due to the tariff issue was one that we took on. The heavy construction industry here in Saskatchewan has been very vocal with all levels of government on action that needs to be taken to ensure our industry remains economically healthy. As an industry, we continue to advocate for long-term strategic funding for infrastructure that guarantees good jobs, safe roads and economic growth.
As the newly elected federal government begins to take shape, SHCA will be looking intently at what direction it takes with respect to the future of infrastructure funding. Hopefully, lessons have been learned and the misguided notion of not funding future projects of infrastructure that are tied to road building have been tossed into the dumpster of bad ideas.
As an advocate for the heavy construction industry, the SHCA will always put our members’ interests first and let governments know when they have been right and when they have been wrong.
SHCA recently had the opportunity to discuss industry topics and issues with Saskatchewan Minister of Highways, the Honourable David Marit, who is also the Minister responsible for SaskBuilds and Procurement.
In March, the provincial government announced its budget for 2025-26, which included a spend on highways set at $777 million and $421 million for capital projects. At the time it was also noted that Marit would be conducting Saskatchewan Construction Roundtable discussions to move the conversation forward on the importance of infrastructure investment in Saskatchewan.
Think BIG: What are you hoping to get out of the Saskatchewan Construction Roundtable discussions with construction industry members?
David Marit: The Construction Roundtable aims to build stronger, more transparent lines of communication between industry and the Government of Saskatchewan. Our goal is to work collaboratively with the construction sector to identify solutions to shared challenges, and to promote growth, safety and sustainability within the sector.
The roundtable serves as an information-sharing platform for government representatives and industry leaders to foster open dialogue, address areas of concern, facilitate collaboration and communication, develop strategic initiatives and celebrate the successes of both industry and government.
“Our goal is to work collaboratively with the construction sector to identify solutions to shared challenges, and to promote growth, safety and sustainability within the sector.”
– David Marit, Saskatchewan Ministry of Highway
We continue to look to industry for solutions to some of our major challenges, including delivering a significant capital plan as our province grows, and finding ways to ensure projects are completed as efficiently as possible. As we navigate uncertainties in the current trade environment, we rely on our industry partners to collaborate on solutions that support Saskatchewan and keep our projects moving forward.
Think BIG: Governments across Canada are looking at removing interprovincial trade barriers to allow for goods and services to flow more freely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Are there areas that the Ministry of Highways and SaskBuilds have been working on to help the industry with trade barriers?
DM: The Government of Saskatchewan will monitor any cost increases that result from tariffs. If necessary, ministries may bring forward cost changes through existing decision-making channels. Over the past five years, Saskatchewan has awarded, on average, more than 99 per cent of procurements to Canadian companies, with less than one per cent awarded to U.S. companies.
We recognize the situation with the U.S. requires all Canadian provinces to look at ways to expand exports outside North America and reduce trade barriers within Canada. The situation south of the border underlined the need for this work, but it’s something we’ve been doing since well before the new U.S. administration took over.
Through this MOU, the provinces will identify priority actions and collaborate on key issues, including:
Identifying specific corridors that the three provinces can mutually work to advance
Improving the efficiency of interprovincial transportation network and harmonizing regulatory frameworks
Leveraging opportunities for joint advocacy to the federal government on regulatory and funding issues
Assessing private-sector investment and/or Indigenous partnership opportunities in improving existing or developing new economic corridors
For Saskatchewan people, improving transportation links with initiatives like these supports our export-based economy, which helps the province invest in key services and helps build and protect our quality of life.
Think BIG: Will the province meet the goals set out in the Growth Plan by 2030? Do you anticipate the province exceeding these goals?
DM: The Ministry of Highways’ year-over-year progress toward that goal has been steady. Highways 2025-26 budget improves more than 1,000 kilometres of provincial highways, the sixth year of our 10-year Growth Plan goal. Planned delivery over the first six years is more than 7,000 kilometres, which is ahead of pace to meet our target.
As for SaskBuilds and Procurement, the 2025-26 Saskatchewan Capital Plan brings Government of Saskatchewan’s infrastructure investment to $21.4 billion since 2020-21, which is 71.3 per cent of the $30-billion Growth Plan goal. The Government of Saskatchewan is firmly on track to exceed this goal.
Saskatchewan’s economy is heavily reliant on transportation, with highways serving as critical arteries for trade and commerce. As a resource-based economy, it is critical that the province has the proper infrastructure in place to get products to market.
Canada recently underwent a federal election, where the main topic electoral candidates discussed was the tariffs instigated by the Trump administration. While the United States tariff issue does impact Saskatchewan, national media platforms gave little to no attention to the 100 per cent canola tariff instituted by China, which has a direct bearing on the Saskatchewan economy.
In 2024, Saskatchewan exported approximately $4.9 billion worth of canola products to China, including canola seed, oil and meal. Provincial trade goes hand in glove with Saskatchewan’s road and infrastructure system. Strong trade results from having a strong infrastructure system and vice versa. How does a resource-based economy recover from the impact of tariffs and what role does the heavy construction industry play to help fix it?
“The way I see it is that we have several paths to follow to help bring stability back into how we continue to not only trade our goods, but to expand to other markets and make sure that our infrastructure meets the demand,” said Shantel Lipp, SHCA president. “Looking for alternative markets around the globe is being actively pursued by the provincial government to help offset the impact from the China tariffs. However, a large part of those deals is reliant on reassuring potential customers that Saskatchewan has reliable infrastructure to move our goods to them.”
Saskatchewan, regardless of any economic headwinds caused by the tariffs, continues to grow its output and the demand for products continues unabated. Agriculture products, potash, uranium and oil and gas are still needed globally, and Saskatchewan has all that. The province must ensure its roads and infrastructure meet trading partners’ needs.
“So many opportunities have been lost to a decade of stagnation on nation-building projects, and we are hopeful that change is the order of the day.”
– Shantel Lipp, Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association
“The heavy construction industry has always met its challenges head-on. The ability for our industry to be flexible is what keeps the bulk of our members going,” said Lipp. “Rather than being a barrier to growth, the heavy construction industry looks at the tariff challenge as an opportunity. Planning ahead is key to our industry succeeding and that can only happen through stable long-term funding arrangements with key partners within government.”
The future of Saskatchewan highways and infrastructure will increase, not decrease, in demand. Aside from key exports of agriculture products, potash and uranium, Saskatchewan has begun to increase the export of critical minerals driven by global need that will require enhanced highway capacity to transport these resources from remote mining sites to processing facilities or export hubs. The province’s aging infrastructure, coupled with increasing traffic volumes, necessitates significant investment in Saskatchewan’s road system.
“There has been a lot of talk amongst our elected officials that in order to counter the impact of tariffs we need to also look within our own borders to the remove barriers to growth,” said Lipp. “Our industry has been very vocal on removing interprovincial trade barriers that hinder our ability to grow as an industry and as a province.”
Aside from the tariff discussions, there are encouraging signs that the newly elected federal government will start to course-correct its past mistakes. At a meeting in March with the premiers, Prime Minister Carney asked each of them to identify “nation-building projects.” This could be an indication that the country and Saskatchewan may be getting an economic boost through funding projects that include elements of highways and infrastructure.
“Saskatchewan now has representation at the federal table with the appointment of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River Member of Parliament Buckley Belanger as Secretary of State (Rural Development),” said Lipp. “Our industry is eager to engage with Belanger on the importance of building up our provincial infrastructure to meet the demand of our resource development projects.”
Belanger’s riding covers a vast swath of northern Saskatchewan, which is home to some of the most productive mining activity in North America. It is also home to the McArthur River uranium mine, which is the world’s largest high-grade uranium deposit. In 2023, Saskatchewan’s uranium sector achieved $1.6 billion in sales revenue, the world’s second-largest uranium producer for that year, providing work for 3,420 direct employees and contractors.
“Both provincial and federal governments need to find common ground that will ensure that the level of infrastructure funding keeps pace with our level of growth,” said Lipp. “So many opportunities have been lost to a decade of stagnation on nation-building projects, and we are hopeful that change is the order of the day.”
From scorching heat in the summer to blasting winter cold, road builders in the Prairies have some of the toughest paving conditions to contend with. Asphalt is more than just a surface layer; it’s a material that must endure the full force of nature over a long period of time.
This is one of the subjects that’s under close scrutiny at the Centre for Applied Research in Sustainable Infrastructure (CARSI) at Red River College Polytechnic in Winnipeg, Man. CARSI provides applied research and education, connecting the classroom with real-world challenges in the construction industry.
The centre is structured into three main areas: pavement materials, structural construction materials and building construction innovation. The lab was originally focused on supporting the aerospace and manufacturing industries, but it has a growing emphasis on asphalt concrete pavement research.
Bahador Barbod, a municipal engineering instructor at the college, says CARSI’s mission is to prepare students for industry while generating practical knowledge that benefits public and private stakeholders. “Students who take our pavement materials courses don’t just study theory,” he said. “They engage in asphalt mix design, evaluate the challenges that come with it and conduct tests using the lab’s advanced equipment.”
Photos: Red River College POLYTECHNIC
Barbod says CARSI delves into a wide range of research projects, including comparative studies on asphalt density testing methods, investigations into self-healing asphalt using calcium alginate and the development of cold mix asphalt, suitable for low-temperature applications. One area of his particular areas of interest involves incorporating recycled materials such as reclaimed asphalt pavement into new mixes, a direction that aligns with sustainability goals while meeting industry demands.
The real-world implications of this research are significant. Much of the lab’s work is driven by the goal of enhancing the durability of construction materials and reducing long-term maintenance costs. Barbod says that while asphalt is widely used, its performance over time – especially under the unique freeze-thaw cycles common to the Prairies – remains a challenge. CARSI’s testing equipment contains a large programmable environmental chamber capable of simulating both high and low temperature conditions.
This chamber is divided into two separate spaces, allowing simultaneous tests at vastly different temperatures. Asphalt samples placed in the chamber undergo rigorous freeze-thaw cycles, mimicking the real-life stressors found on prairie roads.
Much of the lab’s work is driven by the goal of enhancing the durability of construction materials and reducing long-term maintenance costs.
Barbod and his students use the equipment to examine how new asphalt formulations behave under the harshest conditions. By observing how materials crack, deform or deteriorate, CARSI researchers can make more accurate predictions about long-term performance and help shape better material specifications. It should be noted that the chamber isn’t limited to asphalt since it’s large enough to accommodate concrete beams, window frames and other structural components for testing.
As this research continues, Barbod says he hopes to build stronger relationships with the private sector. Although CARSI maintains ties with Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure, its connections with private road builders have been limited. “One thing that’s a little bit challenging for bringing the industry into our research is that students go through the co-op program in the summertime, and asphalt construction is usually shut down in the winter. That’s when students are in college, so we don’t always have that connection between the industry and the college,” he said.
Still, Barbod sees plenty of opportunities for collaboration, such as increased relationships between academic researchers and industry stakeholders, where student-driven projects can address real-world problems and inform construction decisions. Final reports and presentations are already shared with any interested partners, and Barbod invited road building companies to attend student presentations or propose research topics that align with their needs.
Photo: Red River College POLYTECHNIC
CARSI’s impact also extends into workforce development. Students involved in pavement research gain experience in both Marshall and Superpave mix design methods. They learn how to troubleshoot mix performance, test various additives and compare results using industry-standard lab technologies. Graduates leave the program with a comprehensive understanding of construction materials testing, as well as practical experience that gives them a competitive edge in the job market.
The lab’s commitment to skill-building is especially important as the construction industry continues to face a growing demand for technically trained professionals. Barbod says students leave the program with both theoretical knowledge and extensive hands-on experience in asphalt and concrete mix design.
“Students come out from the CARSI lab usually with a complete understanding of construction material testing,” he said. “They experience all of those tests themselves and get the theory and practical knowledge of the mixed design for asphalt and concrete both.”
Looking ahead, the lab has ambitious goals. Barbod says he is interested in researching the use of nanomaterials in asphalt mixes and how these microscopic additives could improve performance properties like elasticity and resistance to cracking. He’s also interested in further research of cold mix asphalt solutions, which remain underused in the Prairies despite their potential to reduce costs and enable off-season construction. If CARSI can demonstrate consistent performance under lab conditions, Barbod says he hopes to help shift industry perceptions and encourage broader adoption of these alternative materials.
Another priority is securing new testing equipment to enhance CARSI’s analytical capabilities. With enhanced tools, the lab could provide even more detailed insights into mix performance and lifecycle costs. This is information that would be valuable to municipal planners, contractors and engineers looking to stretch their infrastructure budgets further.
As CARSI continues to grow, Barbod hopes this will lead to closer ties between the institution and the heavy construction industry. “There’s tremendous value in aligning what we do in the lab with what’s happening in the field,” he said. “We want to be a resource for road builders. Whether it’s improving asphalt durability, reducing maintenance needs, or training the next generation of professionals, we’re here to support the industry.”
